Harness-trace



alt

Patented Dec. 4, 1883.

(N6 Model.)

the purpose of shielding the cord re-enforce UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SHATTUOK GATES, OF ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS.

HARN ESS-TRAC E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,403, dated December 4, 1883.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE SHATTUcK GATES, of Athol, in the county of Worcester, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harness-Traces; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections, Fig. 3, a transverse section, and Fig. 4 a side view, of the whiffletree end portion of a trace provided with my invention, the nature oi which is defined in the claim hereinafter presented. Fig. 5 is a view of the wire-cord reenforeed; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the auxiliary re-enforce, to be described.

When a harness-trace breaks, the separation is generally crosswise of it at its rearmost or whiffietree eye or slot. My invention is to there strengthen it, so as to prevent the leather about the eye from being cracked or torn apart while the trace may be in use. Tothis end I insert between the two straps ab, of which the trace is usually composed, and to surround the hitching eye or slot 0, formed through them, a closed loop or elongated ring of wire cord, and I extend through such loop or ring, at its upper part, and also through the two straps a b,

at a point some distance above the said slot, a rivet, A, having a flat head, (I. The shank of the rivet goes through a washer, e, and is upset thereon. The two straps are subsequently to be stitched together in the ordinary way. Previous, however, to so connecting them, there is to be extended wholly or partiallyaround the metallic cord reenforce, at its lower end, a metallic plate or auxiliary reenforce, f, such being as represented, and for from wear in case of the leather of the eye be- Application filed September 5, 1883. (No model.)

coming out or worn through by the whiffletree connection or button. Whenthe wire is in place, the re-enforce f is between the pieces of leather and out of sight. It only comes into play after the leather at the rear of the eye has been worn, and then serves to keep the wire from being worn. I

From the above it will be seen that the me tallic cordreenf'orce is supported by the rivet which keeps the wire from being pulled backward through the trace, and with such serves to relieve from strain the parts flanking the eye or slot. I

The metallic cord re-enforceis made of wires braided or twisted together, and of a consequence is of a sufficient flexibility to enable the trace to be buttoned on or unbuttoned from a whiffletree, as occasion may require.

I am aware that harness has been provided with a wire cord running through it and around the whifdetree-eye; also, that the whiffletree-eye of a trace has been strengthened by a re-enforcing plate. In the present device the wire is only used at the eye, the remainder of the harness being as usual. The piece of wire cord surrounds the eye and is held in place by the rivet, the re-enforcing plate, and the stitching.

What I claim is- A harness-trace having the whiffletree-eye GEORGE SHATTUCK GATES.

Witnesses:

GEo. A. PERKINS, GEORGE B. FRENCH. 

